Mom is getting more and more forgetful these days, but we're fortunate in that she is cheerful and mobile at almost 95 years of age.
We've been told that as she ages, taking a bath and using the toilet could become more and more hazardous. ALSO, the care home prices here in Hawaii are so astronomical that modifying your home is often much more economical and a happier option for a person to have.
Sooo... we bit the bullet and commenced with the planning and execution of the bathroom renovation project. We started last year but because of our travel schedule and the contractor schedule it did not start until early June.
We decided to do both bathrooms because mom will need to use one while the other was being worked on.
The tiny guest bathroom would be done first. This shower with its high entrance is rather dangerous for an older person to climb over.
The demolition crew came it first.
However, as they banged away at removing that shower stall they inadvertently cracked the wood in the hallway. This is single wall construction so you have to be very careful. If you pound a nail in the wall it WILL come out on the other side. 😕
Luckily, Art had saved redwood panels when we did the renovation for the house in 2006 in preparation to return to the islands to care for my mom. The contractor says they can repair it. I HOPE so.
And this is how it looked on the first day.
Yes, it's true that I get stressed easily and looking all this was unnerving.
So this was Day 1.
POSTSCRIPT:
Aggravation: The contractor called to say he didn't realize he was supposed to buy the Toto toilets and bidets and that he'd have had to raise the price we'd agreed on earlier by 20% if he'd realized it. 😲
Uummm... It WAS written in the contract.
Whatever the case, Art and I made a quick trip to Costco and picked up the bidet seat. We ordered the toilet on Costco's website which would be delivered to the house. We were seriously disturbed and hoped nothing else was forgotten.
Contractors! We had the exact thing happen except with regard to gutters instead of toilets. The difference is that I had our contractor on tape saying what gutters he was going to install. It nearly went to court but in the end, I got the gutters I asked for and for the price the contractor quoted. It did burn a bridge in our relationship.
ReplyDeleteNot only will you be helping out your mom, but I have to think having updated bathrooms will help the resale value of your house down the line.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! I absolutely hate dealing with contractors. We just finished a deck replacement project and don't ya know, they damaged our doorframe during demolition of the old deck, so now we're waiting for that to be fixed.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the renovations. We too have outdated bathrooms, but no real need to renovate them (except for resale value). The upstairs bath is under consideration as it has a tub/shower and our grandson (who has the upstairs) never uses the tub. We could put in a walk-in shower eventually. If the toilets were in the contract, I would think the contractor would be under obligation to take care of it... didn't he read the contract? But sometimes it's not worth the bother to argue...
ReplyDeleteI get so stressed by renovations happening underfoot, although they're wonderful when completed. Even having walls painted in my house stresses me out.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate having my house/refuge torn apart. It does seem that in changing anything, they break other stuff and then I worry that it will never get fixed. I think we're the same person, Kay! That is enraging about the toilets and bidets. Arghhh!
ReplyDeleteIt's such as headache.
ReplyDeleteI commend you for doing this important and aggravating project. Thanks for being a great example to us because we may need to be doing the same thing. Bless your family. Aloha from townside
ReplyDeleteYou have my sympathy. My solution was partly just luck. I decided to move instead of remodel and the day the For Sale sign went up my neighbor across the street came over to tell me a friend who was moving to a care home was selling her recetly remodeled condo. I rushed over to see it. What a find! Totally level inside and out and had been remodeled for a 90 year old lady. A walk in shower with a seat for starters. No floor transitions between rooms to catch the unwary. That was 10 years ago and now I feel so fortunate to have found this place. It's small but it was and is just me but there's a guest room. Still feel lucky to have been shown this.
ReplyDeleteThis will not be fun, but some day it wall be done. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my bathroom gutted and renovated, it was interesting. Fortunately, I had complete trust in my contractor. My only stipulation was that he reset the toilet every night, so I had a place to "go".
ReplyDeleteRenovations, contractors and trades people can make you grow old in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteIf it was in the contract and he bid on the job based on that contract, I don't understand how he could legally win that argument. How much did you save by purchasing it yourself, vs his 'price'.
ReplyDeleteThat was Debby, btw.
ReplyDeleteIf it was in the contract, I do not see why you have to pay twice! I hate that! It is stressful enough to have noise and dirt and strangers in your house day after day. Just focus on the end goal and how nice that will be. I would like to move from our lovely home as my husband ages, but that is not to be.
ReplyDeleteAhhh. I was knee deep in renovations 2 years ago and it was like being a hostage. However, I just kept my focus on what it would be like at the end - which seemed to take forever. Good going with yours! It will be absolutely wonderful soon (or a bit later).
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the renovations, it can be stressful but so worthwhile in the end :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Both my daughters have gone through this, well, one is in process. I had mine redone a few years back and love the high toilet a lot. We have a walk-in shower, too. Aging in place is the way to be.
ReplyDeleteI would so love a bidet.
ReplyDeleteQuite an undertaking.
ReplyDelete